Why a camper? (fiberglass shell topper, that is)

I’ve had a camper shell on both Tacomas that I have owned. I’ve also had a tonneau cover on one of them. The camper shell gives you a lot more room and you can crawl in there if needed. Both the tonneau and shell that I have had leak a little bit. I could probably spend the time and stop the shell from leaking, but it’s just a few drops in the corners and not enough to worry about. The camper shell also lets me put the dog in the back and not have hair all in the cab.

 

I have a long bed , my fiancé and I go camping about 5-6 times a year, occasionally I go by myself. We sleep in the back, plenty of room. Short bed? I’ve tried laying down in them (5’9) I can’t lay straight, that was a deal breaker for me. When I’m not camping, it keeps my dogs from getting the inside of the cab all nasty, and my tools dry. Not to mention I have a seasonal job with ups and carry an ass ton of yalls packages everyday from nov- Jan and if you’re driving a pickup it needs a permanent cover. I have a utility trailer in case I need to haul taller items.

 

Known as a "canopy" where I live. I picked mine up used for $400 and love it. Wife and I camp out of it and it's just so damn simple and comfortable. Can pack up and leave in a matter of minutes, fuel economy and capability are unaffected. I don't care about looking cool or having the best setup so, it's great.

 

Get a MX shell, lots of headroom even with a platform.

 

We have a Leer 100xr and use a Sportz tent from Napier and a drawer bed platform. We sleep in truck which gives room for kids in main section. The screened in sun room serves as a private bathroom complete with instant hot water shower and cassette toilet. Happy Wife...Happy Life!

 

I’ve had one on all 3 trucks I’ve owned. The first two I swapped out for lumber racks seasonally. Don’t need the full rack anymore and it came with a cab high snugtop rebel. I added rhino ditch tracks to complement the Thule tracks on the cap so my bars can be mounted on either/both. The plan is to do something like the Topoer EZ-lift but with 4 x 500mm air cylinders mounted in the bed walls instead of exposed in the bed. I wish it had the side windoors and may eventually swap those but they’re hella expensive. A tonneau would not have nearly enough space for my tools nor could it accommodate long lumber(I had 16’ on it today). If you have a garage you can rig a hoist to remove/store it pretty easily. You can even do this from the eves with some outriggers.

 

Hi @NoVa TRD Sport what rack do you have if you don't mind i am asking? it looks like a prinsu from the logo but if i remember correctly, Prinsu only has 1 side bar. Yours looks different. Thanks

 

I like the added security... can put stuff in the bed and keep it locked up while out shopping etc. Also like the look and overall feel no reason to remove it, ever. If I need to haul something larger I rent a $20 uhaul trailer.

 

question on the carpeted headliner for these caps. do they eventually get nasty with mold from moisture if you decide to sleep inside them? just wondering if I should get that option or not

 

Not in mine but if you haul leafy, twiggy, thorny stuff it can get stuck like Velcro. It’s an indoor/outdoor material so it can be washed though.

 

I live in Pacific Northwest we sleep in it all the time. No mold no moisture. We will occasionally open the windows a crack. But that is because we like a small amount of airflow when we sleep...even when it’s cold outside

 

Re shells. If you have a double cab with a shell, why not just an SUV? Here in California if you buy a pickup you pay weight fees every year. But an SUV and you don't.

 

I wouldn't trade my topper and sleeping platform for nothing.. The way I travel state to state turkey hunting, I would look odd popping an RTT up at a rest stop or Walmart.. With the topper, I can just crawl in the back and be asleep anywhere at anytime..

But i guess they all have their uses,, if you don't mind the process of setting up and don't have the need to be discrete, an RTT would be the way to go..

 

I’ve had that rubber boot cause horrible rust issues on the cab before.

 

That’s one bitching nice truck. The army green starting to grow on me.

 

I haul stuff that I prefer not to have in the cab of a vehicle. Muddy gear, critters while hunting, yard waste. We don’t have a penalty for a truck like California does, but to get into a similar 4Runner they are still more expensive. And I think even a short bed has more space than the cargo area of a 4Runner.

 

I have an ARE on my work truck. It leaks and seems generally flimsy. I would not get any fiberglass cap for my Taco, especially if carrying anything on top. The new metal options are very attractive. The next weak point would be the bedsides themselves...they are just sheet metal and plastic with no apparent supporting structure.

I currently have an RTT on mid mount bars. The low profile is nice and the low height makes for security for larger items like my cooler, which can't fit through the gaps. Of course it's all open to the elements.

 

It takes me about 1-2 minutes to remove my Bakflip. What's different for the Diamondback?

 

If you keep the RTT at cab level (see picture), it doesn't affect mileage any more than a shell would. I drove mine from Houston to Denver (uphill) with a truck full of gear on 33's and the clock showed 16 mpg all day long.

While I do prefer a ground tent for stationary camping, the RTT allows you to quickly move from site to site. I can set mine up and take it down in less than 7 minutes. Setting up a ground tent and packing it up 7 times in a week of "overlanding" would be annoying.

Dead on about the trailer. My wife wont go with me because I don't have a bathroom.

The biggest takeaway from this thread should be to just buy what suits you best. We all use our trucks differently. There is no "on size fits all" solution.

 

I’ve had both the tonneau and shell on my 02 Tacoma For long camping trips the shell is the way unless you pull a small trailer.

Or buy a beast ... I wish